Writing Biography Summaries

I'm a recruiter and hiring manager There is a huge trend I see that is ruining your first impression as an applicant Here's what it is: Generic professional summaries The typical professional summary I see will have the following: Results-driven Detail-oriented Great communicator Full of fluff and buzzwords The same boring professional summary Not noting anything specific to the job description Vague and overused language Here's a recent example from a candidate for a project manager role: Skilled project manager with a proven track record of success. Experienced in leading and managing complex projects from start to finish. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Seeking a challenging and rewarding project manager role where I can use my skills and experience to make a positive contribution. Yawn 🥱 You just ruined your chance at a great first impression I can tell you put zero effort into it Which means I'm going to put zero effort into reading the rest of your resume Want to catch my eye? 👀 Try this on for a professional summary formula -Use industry-specific keywords that showcase your soft/hard skills -Show quantitative results and measurable impact (it's okay if you list these in your bullet points in your resume later on, but bring them to my attention now) -Be specific, don't leave things open to interpretation -Tailor it to the job you are applying for (this takes less than 5 minutes) -Keep it at about 4 sentences maximum Here's how that candidate may do it differently: Project Manager with 10+ years of experience in the technology industry with a proven ability to lead and manage complex projects from start to finish. Expertise in Agile and Waterfall methodologies, as well as experience with various project management software. Oversaw implementation of a $600K e-commerce feature, achieving key milestones on time and under budget, resulting in a 27% increase in annual revenue. Aligned existing e-commerce framework with expansion initiatives, increasing site traffic by 30% and generating $200K+ in new revenue in just six months. Well, hello there...🔥🔥 Now you've got my attention This is a candidate I feel like I NEED to learn more about See the difference between the two? Your professional summary is your movie trailer Your appetizer or first bite into a meal How do you want people to feel about your meal or movie trailer? Do you want them feeling bored and unenthused? Or do you want them eager to learn and want more? If your average hiring manager is spending less than 10 seconds on your resume You need to make the best use of that time in the spotlight Follow this formula and you're guaranteed more callbacks P.S. I share more tips on points like this on a resume in my newsletter. Join the movement with 500 other job seekers Link: https://lnkd.in/g_-492fv

Don’t Just List Tasks—Showcase Your Value on Your CV Your CV should not be a list of the jobs you’ve held—it should demonstrate the unique impact you’ve made throughout your career. Yet, so many CVs end up being little more than task lists. Take a look at this. 👉 Instead of saying, “Managed social media accounts,” Say, “Increased social media engagement by 45% in six months through targeted campaigns.” See how one focuses on tasks and the other highlights results? Employers want to see the value you bring, not just what you were told to do. A Client’s Success Story: I recently worked with a client who was in marketing. Her CV initially read like a job description: “Created email campaigns” and “Collaborated with sales teams.” While this is great for using key works and incorporating the job description, it just doesn't have any impact. We reframed her experience to focus on results: ✅ “Launched email campaigns that boosted open rates by 25%, contributing to a 15% increase in sales leads.” ✅ “Developed cross-departmental strategies with sales, resulting in a streamlined funnel and increased conversion rates by 10%.” The result? Not only did her CV stand out, but it led to interviews where she could discuss her real contributions. Here are some ways you can showcase value on your CV: 1️⃣ Use numbers, percentages, or metrics to quantify your achievements. 2️⃣ Highlight the outcomes and benefits of your work, not just the actions. 3️⃣ Start bullet points with strong action verbs like boosted, increased, reduced, streamlined, or led. Make it clear why you’re the one who can deliver results. www.joanneleecoaching.com 👉🏻Employers - let us know in the comments what you are looking for on a CV in 2025. #cvwriting #careercoaching #careerdevelopment #jobsearchtips

Want better results from your resume? Try using a “Highlight Reel.” Whether you know it or not, the job search is a sales process and your resume is a marketing document. Great marketers don’t bury the lead, they put it front and center. Problem is, most traditional resumes don’t let us do that. People think they have to choose between leading with Work Experience or Education. A Highlight Reel solves that problem. So what is it? A Highlight Reel is a section at the top of your resume that showcases ~3-5 bullets of your best and most relevant experience for this role. It's the SportsCenter Top 10 of your resume! I break it down like this: Bullet #1: Career Summary Example: “Director of Partner Development with 7+ years experience managing multi-million dollar partnerships with brands like Nike, Under Armour, and Modells.” Bullets #2 - 4: “Case Study” Bullets Example: "Drove $7M in incremental revenue via consultative selling and upsells (117% to quota), won "Rising Star" sales award Bullet #5 - Culture / Extracurriculars Example: "Organize annual 'Volunteer Day,' raising $5,000 for charity and totaling 100+ hours of service across the company" See how we're able to capture the highlights of our career in 5 bullets? That's how you stand out and get hired.

I’ve revamped 216 resumes over the past 365 days. Most of the clients I worked with landed jobs in 4 months or less. Here’s what I’ve learned about what makes an executive resume WORK: 1) Keep it short. Even at the executive level, your resume should never be more than 2 pages. Anything longer, and you’ll lose the recruiter’s attention. 2) Clean design. Forget fancy designs, graphs, or color schemes. Nobody cares about that and it is super DISTRACTING for Recruiters. What matters is what you’ve done and the results you’ve delivered. 3) Tell a story. For each role, start with one bullet about your general scope (team size, portfolio, industries, etc.) and follow it up with 4–6 bullets that explain: ➜ What you did ➜ How you did it ➜ The results you achieved 4) Show your leadership. So many resumes focus only on tasks, and they forget to include leadership impact, talent development, or team management. If you’ve led people, OWN it. Recruiters want to see this! 5) Your resume is only the START. What you do after you apply (networking, reaching out to hiring managers, getting referrals) matters just as much as hitting “submit.” Here’s an example from one of my clients who just got hired at a Big 4 firm. She's worked in the data space for 20+ years, and her resume tells the story of her leadership AND results vs just listing out responsibilities and duties. SELL YOURSELF, SELL YOURSELF, SELL YOURSELF!! :) If you've got questions about your resume and job search feel free to book a call with me at csgexecutivecoaching.com #ResumeTips #ExecutiveCareers #JobSearch #Leadership #GetHired

I’m spending more and more time helping executives pull their own voice back into their resumes and LinkedIn profiles. Often these executives give me AI generated overviews of themselves, that they created, thinking it sounds amazing...and I'm working to transition these overly polished details back to what made their leadership experience compelling in the first place. Their 'voice' and their unique story are super important in a world where everything is starting to sound the same. Also, executive hiring has never been purely about qualifications on paper. Decision-makers are evaluating depth, communication style, strategic thinking, business maturity, and credibility all at once. Those qualities are difficult to replicate through templated language. I also think this is part of why visibility and thought leadership are becoming more important for executives now. Boards and hiring committees want stronger signals of perspective, judgment, and authenticity beyond career documents alone. All this to remind executives that the strongest executive resumes are the ones that sound connected to a real human with distinct leadership experience, real decision-making responsibility, and a clear professional identity. They are not like all the rest! As more AI-generated content enters the market, the distinction becomes easier to notice.

🔄 Feeling stuck in your career but unsure how to pivot after years in one field? You’re not alone. Many professionals crave a new challenge but don’t know where to start. Here’s how to make a smooth transition: 1️⃣ Identify Transferable Skills Your experience is more valuable than you think. Even if your industry is different, your core skills—problem-solving, leadership, communication, project management—are universal. ✅ Action Step: Make a list of your key skills and match them to roles in your target industry. 💡 Example: If you’ve worked in finance but want to move into tech, your analytical skills and data interpretation experience are still highly relevant. 2️⃣ Reframe Your Experience for Your New Audience Hiring managers in a new industry won’t automatically connect the dots—you have to do it for them. ✅ Action Step: Rewrite your resume, LinkedIn profile, and elevator pitch to highlight how your background applies to the new field. 💡 Tip: Focus on outcomes, impact, and skills rather than job titles. Instead of: ❌ "10 years of experience in pharmaceutical sales." Try: ✅ "Experienced relationship builder skilled in consultative sales and market expansion." 3️⃣ Expand Your Network & Learn From Insiders Changing careers isn’t just about applying online—it’s about getting in front of the right people. ✅ Action Step: Connect with professionals in your target field and request informational interviews. 📩 Example message: "Hi [Name], I’m exploring a career transition into [Industry] and really admire your experience at [Company]. Would you be open to a quick chat about your journey and insights?" 4️⃣ Gain Targeted Experience (Without Starting Over) The biggest fear in career pivots? “Do I have to start from scratch?” The answer: No. ✅ Action Step: Look for ways to gain relevant experience while still in your current role: ✔️ Take on cross-functional projects ✔️ Volunteer for industry-related work ✔️ Freelance or take short-term contracts 💡 Example: If you’re transitioning into marketing, start by managing internal communications or social media for a nonprofit. 5️⃣ Be Ready to Tell Your Career Pivot Story Hiring managers will ask: “Why are you making this change?” You need a clear, compelling answer. ✅ Action Step: Craft a confident pivot story that focuses on why this shift makes sense and how your skills align. 📌 Formula: ➡ Past: What you’ve done so far ➡ Present: Why you’re making this change ➡ Future: How your skills translate & add value 💡 Example: "After years in operations, I realized my passion lies in product management—solving customer pain points and driving innovation. My experience in process optimization and stakeholder management gives me a strong foundation, and I’m excited to bring these skills to a product-focused role." Making a career pivot is challenging—but absolutely possible with the right approach. 💬 Have you ever pivoted careers? What worked best for you? Share your experience below! 👇

I just hung up the phone. Two hours and six minutes—that’s how long I spent (mostly listening) with the president of a manufacturing firm. At the end of our call, he paused and said something that’s stuck with me: "Sarah, I’ve got to be honest—this call went very differently than I expected. You asked some heavy-hitting questions… in a good way. You pushed me to think more deeply about my narrative and the true impact of my work." These are the moments that fuel me. Helping high-achieving leaders uncover the story behind the numbers… Reframing their accomplishments through the lens of value… And guiding them to step into their narrative with clarity and confidence. But as any good marketer knows—it’s never just about the metrics. 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. I recently had the privilege of diving into this topic with Cisco's Young Professional Employee Resource Group. These were high-potential professionals—coordinators, managers, early directors—already delivering strong results. The challenge wasn’t capability. It was translation. They were sitting on meaningful outcomes: • Driving cross-functional initiatives • Improving processes and efficiency • Influencing stakeholders without formal authority …but describing their work like task lists instead of leadership stories. We spent time unpacking that gap—how easily great work gets diluted when it’s framed as activity instead of impact. One of the things we discussed was my favorite formula for writing compelling, impact-driven resume bullet points: the RAS format — 👉 RAS: Result → Action → Situation Start with the outcome. -->Then explain what you did. And close with the context. It’s a simple shift—but it transforms a list of tasks into a narrative of leadership, influence, and results. Here are some examples of result-rich bullet points using the RAS formula: Saved $2M in potential fines by improving regulatory compliance. Steered multidisciplinary team on corrective action implementation project to transform company into best-in-class. Rescued distressed $1M key account, reversing NPS of -4 to +9 in 1 year, increasing client revenue 20%. Grew trend jewelry business by 75% after implementing a new merchandising strategy and optimizing store presentation. Delivered profitable growth 6 months ahead of 24-month schedule, expanding sales revenue as much as 94% YOY in a new country with limited resources.

Outdated resume features I still see in 2025 and what to do instead. Ditch these... ❌ Objective statements. “Seeking a challenging role…” ✅ Do this: A 3-4 line value summary with your niche, scope, and outcomes. ❌ Buzzwords with no proof. “Results-driven team player.” ✅ Do this: Show numbers (revenue, savings, NPS, cycle time). ❌ Duty lists. 10 bullets that read like a job description. ✅ Do this: 3–5 achievement bullets per role. ❌ Headshots, DOB, full address. ✅ Do this: Name | City/State | Mobile | Email | LinkedIn URL. ❌ “References available on request.” ✅ Do this: Leave it out. Share referees later. ❌ Tables, text boxes, graphics. ✅ Do this: Clean layout that won’t break ATS. ❌ 10 pages of everything you’ve ever done since High School. ✅ Do this (AU): 2–3 pages for execs; depth on the last 10–12 years. ❌ Vague dates. “2021–2023” ✅ Do this: MMM YYYY – MMM YYYY (shows continuity/Own your gaps). ❌ Generic file names. “Resume.pdf” ✅ Do this: Surname_Role_Resume_2025.pdf Here is an example of how to write winning bullets: Action + Scope + Result “Reduced month-end close from 12 to 5 days across 4 entities by automating reconciliations (Tool/System/Platform used).” Modern structure (simple) - Value summary (niche, scale, impact) - Key achievements (3–6 headline wins) - Experience (roles with 3–5 impact bullets) - Education & Certifications (relevant + recent) - Skills/Tools (only what you use at exec level) Phrases to swap “Responsible for” ➡️ “Led / Built / Delivered” “Helped with” ➡️ “Drove / Orchestrated” “Worked on” ➡️ “Executed / Implemented” If you’re job-hunting right now: trim, quantify, and make it skimmable. _____________________________ I help executives and organisations hire better, lead stronger, and avoid costly talent mistakes. 📩 Join 3000 others and subscribe to my free newsletter for strategies on leadership, hiring, and career growth: https://lnkd.in/gzSpKjjm 🎧 Listen to The Executive Espresso here: https://lnkd.in/dCXHXFDP If you’re building your leadership bench or planning your next career move, let’s connect. #LinkedinNewsAustralia

Recently, I reviewed a senior executive's resume and was shocked by several critical issues. It became clear that the resume was generated by a resume builder, which unfortunately led to significant shortcomings. Having worked with Senior Executives and helped them secure highly coveted leadership roles, I can confidently say that his resume had several critical flaws. This resume is unlikely to lead to interviews, networking calls, or any further opportunities. ➡ Critical Flaws in the Resume: - Lack of Context in the Summary: The summary was generic and failed to capture the executive’s unique career trajectory and expertise. - No Quantifiable Achievements: The resume lacked metrics to showcase the executive’s impact, making it hard to assess their contributions. - Lacked Value Proposition: There was no clear value proposition, missing an articulation of the executive's unique strengths and how they could benefit potential employers. - Not Aligned to the Target Job: The resume was not tailored to the executive’s target role, failing to highlight relevant skills and experiences. -One-Page Limitation: Constrained to a single page, the resume did not provide enough space to detail key achievements and qualifications, which is crucial for senior-level candidates. ✨ My recommendations for a Compelling Executive Resume: - Highlight the executive's unique career trajectory and expertise. - Use metrics to demonstrate impact. - Articulate unique strengths and problem-solving abilities. - Tailor the content to align with the target job. - Use a two-page format to detail key achievements and qualifications comprehensively. #executiveresume #jobsearch #executive